Cook | Chef ~ Food Service

Sprucelake; Canadensis (PA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Spruce Lake Ministries in the Pocono Mountains seeks a Food Service Cook to prepare and serve meals at Pinebrook, Spruce Lake, or Youth Campus locations. The role emphasizes high standards of cleanliness and safe food handling, and involves supporting the kitchen team in busy service periods.

The FS Cook will supervise staff, plan meals for groups, and ensure timely service while maintaining compliance with ServSafe or local health credentials.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of experience in cooking/food service.
• Minimum of two years supervisory and/or leadership experience.
• Knowledge of meal/menu planning for groups.
• Ability to communicate with and manage staff.
• Valid ServSafe certification and/or local health department credentials.
• Availability to work days, evenings, rotating weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve meals at Pinebrook, Spruce Lake, or Youth Campus locations.
• Maintain highest standards of cleanliness for staff hygiene and food preparation.
• Be a member of the FS kitchen team and support kitchen operations.

Skills

Staff management

Meal planning

Food safety

Cooking

Communication

Job description

Spruce Lake Ministries encourages persons from a variety of traditions to a deeper faith in God through Jesus Christ. In this peaceful setting in the heart of the Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania, Spruce Lake and Pinebrook provide Christian church, family and corporate groups with lodging, meeting spaces and meals for their next event or retreat. Spruce Lake and Pinebrook also hosts summer camps, programmatic retreats, and outdoor education programs throughout the year.

The Food Service Cook (FS Cook) shall be responsible for the preparation and serving of meals provided at Pinebrook, Spruce Lake, or Youth Campus locations. The FS Cook shall be responsible for maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness, regarding both staff hygiene and food preparation. The FS Cook is a member of the FS kitchen team.

Prerequisites

• Growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ
• Must support Spruce Lake Ministries' statement of faith and core values.
• Must have a teachable spirit, team-player attitude, and servant heart.
• Must be responsible, industrious, hospitable, and enthusiastic.

Accountability

FS Manager and FS Head Cook

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of experience in cooking/food service
• Minimum of two years supervisory and/or leadership experience.
• Knowledge of meal/menu planning for groups
• Ability to communicate with and manage staff.
• Valid ServSafe certification and/or local health department food handler credentials.
• Availability to work days, evenings, rotating weekends and holidays.

Supervision

Food Service kitchen assistants and volunteers

Physical Requirements

Ability to stand and walk for up to 10 to 12 hour shifts during high-volume seasons. Ability to lift, carry, load and unload up to 50 lbs., to perform repetitive motions with arms, wrists, shoulders, and to bend, kneel and stretch. Ability to work seamlessly in an environment that fluctuates rapidly between intense heat (near grills, ovens, and dishwashers) and extreme cold (inside walk-in coolers and freezers) as well as wet, slippery kitchen floors.

Spruce Lake Ministries, Pinebrook or Spruce Lake, does not currently hire anyone who is not authorized to work in the US, nor are we able to sponsor international employees or volunteers.

At the employer's expense, all employment hires are contingent upon completion of FBI Criminal Background fingerprint clearance, PA Child Abuse Clearance and PA Criminal History Clearance.

AI - We recognize that AI tools like ChatGPT and others can be powerful tools when used thoughtfully and ethically. However, for this application and hiring process, we ask that you do not use AI tools to write your responses on this form or future correspondence. We are interested in hearing directly from you and your unique perspectives and experiences. Responses that appear to be generated or heavily influenced by AI may disqualify your application from consideration.